The Mysuru Dasara Jamboo Savari drew thousands of spectators along its route on Wednesday, but crowd surges at several points led to barricades being breached, more than 50 women and children experiencing breathing difficulties and police using mild lathi charges to control the gathering, according to a report by Prajavani.
The procession began at Balrama Gate and travelled to Bannimantap, with people occupying spaces along both sides of the route from Tuesday and arriving in groups from early Wednesday morning. Many spectators waited for the decorated elephant carrying the golden howdah and the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, raising slogans, offering flowers and joining the celebrations.
The arrival of the lead elephant Abhimanyu, identified in the report as the procession’s nishane elephant and former howdah carrier, prompted loud cheers from the crowd. Other elephants, including Gopi, Lakshmi, Mahendra, Ekalavya, Srikanta, Sugriva, Srirama and Chaitra, also attracted large gatherings as they moved along the route. Film personalities travelling in a special bus waved to spectators, while Asian Games winners and cricketer Shreyanka Patil drew additional attention.
The crowd became difficult to manage near Chamraj Circle, K.R. Circle, the city bus stand, Ayurveda Circle and Chikka Gadiyara. Although barricades had been installed on both sides to prevent people from entering the road, some spectators pushed through and attempted to move forward when the tableaux and the howdah elephant approached. Police used mild lathi charges at some locations to control the movement, the report said.
More than 50 women and children reportedly suffered breathing problems amid the pushing and crowding and were taken away in ambulances. Children who became separated from their mothers were comforted by police personnel. Some women and children near the front of the crowd were later seated by the roadside after becoming trapped between barricades.
The incident highlighted the operational difficulty of managing a high-density public procession in a historic city centre, where spectators gather close to the route and visibility is concentrated around a few major attractions. The report also said that people climbed trees and old buildings despite police instructions not to do so. Spectators were seen sitting in trees within the K.R. Hospital campus and on structures along the route as the howdah elephant came closer.
Emergency and civic services were deployed alongside the police. Six district fire officers and 150 fire and emergency-service personnel were assigned to security duties. More than 15 water vehicles and 10 quick-response vehicles were among 30 emergency vehicles operating during the event. The civic body deployed 67 sanitation workers, while nine municipal vehicles distributed 2,500 litres of water.
Volunteers from the Vasavi Youth Association, Vasavi Seva Dal and Kannada organisations distributed water, buttermilk, cucumber and chocolates to spectators and volunteers. Scouts, Guides and National Cadet Corps students also assisted. The Department of Kannada and Culture used public-address systems at three locations to provide information to the crowd.
The procession concluded with devotees distributing prasada. The deployment figures and crowd-control measures show the scale of public resources required for the Jamboo Savari, while the reported breathing difficulties, separated children and unsafe climbing underline the continuing challenge of keeping spectators away from the moving route and elevated hazards during Mysuru’s largest public procession.
